Rat-trap.



M. MORAWIBCKI.

RAT TRAP. APPLIoATIoN FILED rma?, 1912.

1,048,995, Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

ATTORNEYS To all whom it may concern:

gary, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county rodent is deposited between twoelectrodes,'

av construction which is simpler and eiiicient my device. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken cated in advance of'a bait-holder 13, said UNirED STAT-Es PATENT onrioa.

MICHAL MORAWIECKI, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

. RAT-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent. vApplication filed 'February 27, 1912. Serial No'.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912. 650,187:

'Be it known tli'at'I, MICHAL Monawmoni, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hunof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Rat-Traps, of which the following is a speoiiication, reference being had therein to-the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates -to improvements in rat traps and more particularlythat type in which the rat or rodent is eleotro'cuted.

The principal object of my invention is toprovide a device of this type in which the one of which is movable with a retardin action in order that a surety willbe hadthat the rodent will receive theentire current. Otherand further ,objects are to provide on the line X-X of Fig. 1.

The preferred lembodiment of'my invention is shown in the drawings in whichf- 10 designates a casing which may be. formed in any suitable manner and in any suitablenumber of "parts, the lower portionl being adapted to contain water andthe top" being provided with an opening 11. no r" mally closed vby ,a tiltableplatform 12 lo platform being mounted in the 'path ofmo'vement of a rodent from the entrance provided by an opening lflin a top casing' 15; if desired, a suitable runway 16 maybe employed in enable the-rodent to enter the trap. The articular form of platform 12 isas maybe esired, the' purpose being to provide a platformnwhich will forma tra-pdoor for lthe rodent, the form shown in the drawing having a weight 17 adapted to -return the parts to normal position.

' Below the 'opening 11, is located the electrocuting construct-ion which consists of a stationary plate or electrode of. suitable con figuration and forming one of the terminals of the electrocuting circuit, represented dia.-`

.'grammatically at l9land the movable electrode 20 pivotall-yfmounted as at 21, in such manner asto have its lower end in prox-v imity to but out of contact fwith the lower end of the electrode 18, this being the normal" position and provided by suitable means such as a weight 22, whichmay be adjustable. ifdesired v.Connected to the movable electrodeis 'asuitableretarding device, one form of which vlo is illust-rated i-n the drawings as being simiT lar to adash-pot construction' 2 2, the piston indicated at 23' being connectedito theelec# trode by a suitable connectionQl, the purpose ofy this -construction being to retardthe movement ofthe movable electro-de in' a direction to separate the lower ends 'of t-he two electrodes.

25 designates ga stop movement of the platform 12.

In operation','a rodent entering the'casing 15, through the' opening 14;4 and attempting to reach the bait carried byjthe holder 13l to limit the tilting cipitated between the electrodes 1gand 20, both of.` which are normally charged, and

lthus bridge the gap therebetween, As the lower ends of the terminals` are of less dis` tance apart than the size of' a rodent, it'will be readily understood that the weight` of a Vrodent will tend to separate these electrodes by 'moving the movable electrode away from the stationary electrode, this movement, how'- ever, beingresisted. bythe retarding mechanism so as to insure theU retention of the -rodentnbetween the :electrodes a suiiicient length of time to insure `electrocution. As will be obvious, its 'weight will finally permit the rodent topass beyond the electrodes and be deposited inthe water'jtherebelow, therelease of the to act to return the movable electro eto its normal-position. Y

The dash-pot structure .may be formed to eoA ' will pass onto the trap .door-12 and be pre.

rodent permitting the Cil provide for any. desired time length of operation, by, for instance, simply increasing the opening which provides for the escape of air. Obviously` one or more retarding 4structures may be provided, the drawings v dent.

The lshowing of the casing 10 is' simply an exemplification. If desired, the casing may be in two parts joined together above the level of the water as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, thus permitting the upper portion of the trap to be removed for the purpose of permitting access to the interior for lthe r'emoval of the rodents. Or, if desired, a door 30 may be provided to permit such access, or both types may be employed as desired.

As will be obvious, the electrocuting circuit may be provided in any suitable manner as from an ordinary light circuit which may, if desired be amplified in any suitable manner. as bya stepup device commonly used for the purpose of amplifying the circuit.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of my invention, it will be' readily understood that variations and changes therein may be made to meet the exigencies of' use, and I desire it to be'understood that I reserve the right .to-make anyl and all such changes, and modifications therein as may be required or desired, in so far as the same may fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

l. In an electric trap, a tilting platform,

a pair of electrodes below the normal plane of said platform, one ofsaid electrodes being fixed and inclined to the vertical, the opposite electrode comprising a member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having a face extending angularly to the face of the fixed electrode, the free opposing ends of the electrodes being-spaced apart and forming a mouth, means carried by the pivoted'electrode for normally' retaining it with its mouth portion inits position of closest approach to the fixed electrode, and retarding mechanism independent of said retaining mechanism `and also connected to said pivoted member to control and provide a uniform rate of speed to the opening movement of the mouth portion of said member.

2. In an electric trap, a tilting platform, a pair of electrodes below the normal plane of said platform, one of said electrodes being fixed and inclined to the vertical, the

opposite electrode comprising a member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having a face extending angularly to the face of the fixedelectrode, the free opposing ends of the electrodes being-spaced apart and forming a mouth, means carried by the pivoted electrode for normally retaining it with its mouth portion in its position of closest approach to the fixed electrode, and retarding mechanism independent of said, retaining mechanism and also connected to said pivoted member to control l`and provide a uniform rate of speed to the opening movement of the mouth portion of said member, said retarding mechanism including a dash-pot structure.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MICHAL MORAVVIECKI.

. Witnesses:

MAX H. SRoLovrrZ, CHRISTINA TQ I-IooD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commssionerof Patents,

Washington, D. C, 

